From: Mother See Foreign Press Office <[email protected]>
Subject: Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Etchmiadzin
PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
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April 10, 2007
Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ in Holy Etchmiadzin
"We are called by God and bound by the imperatives of the times
to unify our efforts for the sake of a free and happy life,
for the sake of philanthropic values which are the blessed gifts from God."
? His Holiness Karekin II
On Sunday, April 8, the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ
was celebrated with special joy and festivity in the headquarters of the
worldwide Armenian Church ? the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In anticipation of the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, the Youth Centers of the
Armenian Church, co-sponsored by the Mother See and the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, had organized a parade which began early in the morning at
the Monastery of St. Hripsime. With the singing of church hymns and the
beating of drums, hundreds of young boys and girls processed toward the
Mother See, where upon their arrival, they greeted the pontifical procession
leading His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, into the
Mother Cathedral for the commencement of the Easter Divine Liturgy.
As the bells of Holy Etchmiadzin tolled with enthusiasm, the Pontiff of All
Armenians entered the Cathedral of the Descent of the Only Begotten and was
greeted by state officials, diplomats, honored guests and thousands of
Armenian faithful waiting to hear the good news of Christ?s Resurrection.
His Holiness Karekin II celebrated the solemn Divine Liturgy and delivered
his message of hope and love to the Armenian people in Armenia, Artsakh and
throughout the world. As every year, the Easter Divine Liturgy was again
broadcast live from Holy Etchmiadzin around the globe by Armenian Public
Television and the Shoghakat Television Company.
Assisting His Holiness at the Holy Altar were His Grace Bishop Anushavan
Jamgotchian, Dean of Yerevan State University?s Faculty of Theology; and His
Grace Bishop Markos Hovhannisian, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of
Gegharkunik.
In his message, His Holiness stated, "…The Son of God gave His life as
ransom for the salvation of the world, and Christ?s sacrifice became the
greatest evidence of Divine love for mankind. Through His sacrifice and
resurrection, Christ granted mankind liberty from the power of evil, from
the bondage of sin and death. Christ gave us freedom, which is beyond any
comprehendible human understanding; freedom which is the grace to walk
toward reborn life ? life renewed with justice and peace ? and the desired
and sought after eternity of life."
Reflecting on the current state of affairs in the world, His Holiness said,
"…(the) paths leading away from the light of Christ?s Resurrection fill
the world today with anxiety. In these days as well, Judas? kisses and
materialism are spreading. In the example of Pilate, many wash their hands,
trampling justice underfoot for their own personal prosperity. Today as
well, men follow the example of denying the peace-bestowing Christ and
selecting the thief Barabbas with their cheating, violence, assassinations
and in their frenzy for stepping on others for their personal gain. The
Mother of God grieving near the Cross today mourns with all lamenting
mothers who have lost their sons in wars, grieves for those who are
crucifying themselves through their evil acts, and for the many injustices,
pains, poverty and yearnings which fill the world with sorrow."
His Holiness also spoke specifically about the hardships that the Armenian
people continue to face: "We remain obligated to struggle for the
God-granted right of the Armenians of Artsakh to live in liberty and
security; for the universal condemnation of the Armenian Genocide; and for
the preservation and salvation of Armenian spiritual and cultural treasures
? our holy shrines and monuments ? in our neighboring countries.
"The policy of denying the Genocide is the cause for new physical, cultural
and psychological-moral genocides. Unpunished crimes unavoidably bear new
ones. The Genocide of the Armenians was followed by the Holocaust, as well
as Rwanda, Darfur and other genocides. The destruction of the giant Buddha
statues in Afghanistan was followed by the obliteration of thousands of
ancient Khatchkars (Stone-Crosses) in Nakhijevan by Azeri soldiers. Only
days ago, while the wound on the soul of our people from Hrant Dink?s
assassination has not yet closed, the Turkish authorities, having completed
the renovation work on the Church of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island,
converted the centuries-old Armenian holy shrine into a museum. From the
time of the Genocide, the church has been standing in silent prayer, yet
today prayer is prohibited in the renovated church. Truly, in this new
century, this approach cannot be the spirit of dialogue between religions
and cultures, nor the aspirations for peaceful coexistence among peoples."
The Armenian Pontiff concluded his annual message with words of optimism and
encouragement: "Relying on God, we have great hope in the triumph of
justice, freedom and peace. Our faith is alive, through which we shall
create the new victories of our life, we shall erect new Khatchkars which
whisper their prayers, new sanctuaries of illuminated altars, new monuments
shall rise with that strength of the grace of the resurrection, which is
granted to us by our All-Provident Savior and Lord.
"Our dear faithful sons and daughters, we once again bring the life-giving
tiding to you: ‘Christ is Risen from the dead, He destroyed death with
death; and through His Resurrection, granted us life’. He Who was crucified
by men has Risen, the gravestone has been rolled away by divine power, and
our hearts are filled with the joy of God-granted salvation. Through the
countless graces of the Savior?s Resurrection, let our souls be strengthened
by labors established on the foundation of faith, to make prosperous and
brilliant the path of renaissance for our homeland, our people and our
Church? May our homeland, the entire world, and nations and people live free
of sorrow and pain, with love, brotherhood and peace toward one another
under the innumerable mercies of the Risen Christ."
Present for the Easter Divine Liturgy were President of the Republic of
Armenian Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh
Arkady Ghukasian, Prime Minister of Armenia Serge Sargisian, Ministers of
the Republic of Armenia, Members of the National Assembly, Supreme Spiritual
Council members, ambassadors and leaders of diplomatic missions accredited
to Armenia, representatives of international organizations working in
Armenia, and thousands of faithful men, women and children.
Also in attendance for the Liturgy were more than 100 members of the AGBU
with their chapter representatives and members of the central board led by
its President, Mr. Berge Setrakian, who are in Yerevan to celebrate the
100th Anniversary of the benevolent organization.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II hosted a
reception in the Pontifical Residence for the two presidents, state
officials, ambassadors and AGBU guests. During the reception, the
Catholicos once again greeted the faithful with the tiding of "Christ is
Risen from the dead!" to which the crowd replied, "Blessed is the
Resurrection of Christ".